Notre Dame Football: Where will the Irish’s draft prospects land?

1. Kyle Hamilton, top five overall

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have not had a first overall pick since Walt Patulski in 1972. This draft could break a fairly impressive 50-year drought. Hamilton is the best prospect in a breeze with a slight separation between its elite players.

Jacksonville could decide to go with the best prospect and draft Hamilton. Safety is a position teams draft high often, but Hamilton is a unique talent. Isaiah Simmons said when asked what role he played, “defense.” The same goes for Kyle Hamilton.

Hamilton can do everything you’d ask of the modern-day safety. He can cover the deep half, third or fourth. Hamilton can cover deep in a zone; he can also come down and cover the slot and cover the tight end.

Hamilton is physical at the line of scrimmage when asked to come up in run support or as a blitzer. Though he is not categorically a thumper, he is a sure-fire tackler. There was some question as to whether or not he should play linebacker at safety.

Hamilton would not be the first if that happened. Brian Urlacher and Isaiah Simmons were both college safeties. However, Hamilton’s ball skills are too good to be watered into a linebacker’s role.